Decorative centerpiece



March 29, 1949. w, HEINTZE 2,465,684

DECORATIVE CENTERPIECE Filed May 2'7, 194s INVENTOR lo BY w "r. HEINTZE ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,465,684 reeman; CENTERPIECE walter'llr. fieintie; Elizabeth; N..J.,i assignor to Fostoria Glass Company,'Moundsville, W. Va., a

corporation 0t West Virginia Application has: 27, 1948, sa N6. 29,576

This invention relates to decorative settings and -more particularly to a centerpiece set designed foriuse on a buffet, side table; dining table, console table-or thelike; The inventionprovides a novel decorative device adapted-tor the retentionof'both candles and :a floating garden, lily pond, floral-display, fruits or other-objects.

. The invention provides a novel self-contained device which is readily susceptibleof countless changes and variations of decorative motif, including both the number and arrangement of candles, floral pieces or other-articles. Heretofore it has been customarytouse separate candlesticks with an epergne or other independent article. or articles suchas,-f0r example, bowls of flowers. Many of such items are costly anddo not readily lend themselves to adaptation with the candlesticks.--

:An object of the-present invention is to provide a centerpieceofthe-character described as a self-contained and complete'unit, possessing a maximum degree of flexibility in order -to encourage expression and the personality of the individual user. I I

. Another object of the invention is to provide a decorative centerpiece which may be used in dependently or with table settings.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a centerpiece of the character described having I separable candle supporting members so that any desired number and arrangement of such supporting members'may be utilized within the numerical limitations of the device;

A further objectof the invention is to provide a decorative centerprice which maybe economically manufactured and sold and which will combine aesthetic'beauty with simplicity of design. 1 Further objects and advantages of the inven-- tion will be apparent from the iollowingspecification" taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 is a top plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment-:ofwthew invention; V Fig. 2, a central verticalsectional view through the' complete unit with a portion oi the candlestick supporting element andone-of the candle supports illustrated in e1evation; and

Fig- 3, a bottom plan view of one of the candle holding or supporting elements.

With continued reference -t o the drawings ,the presentinr t on m es an; at tiv a is centerpiece including a relatively shallow bowl l0 having a depression or concavity l l in its upper surface and an annular shoulder I2 around the same for retaining a center block l3 at the 7 class. (or. 67-23) upon the number desired location within the bowl Ill.- The rim of the bowl may be fluted or have any other desired ornamental configuration.

- The center block may have a configuration generally similar to that of the rim of the bowl, thus providing a matched pleasingly aesthetic appearance. This similarity of shape in the present instance is accomplished by making the block of six segments l4 corresponding to the six flutes of the bowl. The block is provided with spaced sockets l5 of teardrop ornoncircular cross-section spaced about a central candle socket H5. Each teardrop socket is pointed toward the centra1-candle socket and isadapted to-receive a corresponding teardrop cross-section forming the lower end H of a candle support is having a candle-socket I9 on'its upper end with a'curved decorative extremity 20. In other words the candlesupport 18 has its ends offset with its "upper end carrying a candle socket and its lower end having a teardropcross-secton to fit into one of the teardrop sockets in the center block The cooperating teardrop sockets and teardrop extremities. of the candle supports cooperate to prevent free rotation of the candle support in the center block and with. respect toythecenter block and permit the. selective useof from one to six of the candle supports in any desired arrangement. This structure likewise per its ready application or removal of each candle socket and prevents rotation thereof.

It will he noted that the center block has a larger recess 2 i. above and encompassing thesocket lfiand all of the sockets l5 and that the candie supporting members I! with, their upper ends apart, incline. outwardly and rest against the vertical shoulder or wall formed in the block by the said recess 2|.

In Fig, lyoi the drawing, two candle supports are illustrated in opposed relationship. Obviously, two. more supports may be :used with the center. block illustrated, or any number -of such candle supports up tosix may be employed. ;It also will be readily apparent that when any lesser n be a e t ized; h s n wil :b e te the useof a candle in the central socket likewise, is entirely optional and is not. dependent or arrangement of candle supports. 1 i i 1 w l be ebrm s mt q s li t hi art hat the ramificationsof-decorative possibilities with the present device are virtually limitless as to the contents of the bowl and that candle arrangement is restricted only by the size of the center block and the number of sockets provided therein.

Further, various changes may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as is indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centerpiece comprising a complete unit including a relatively shallow bowl for receiving and holding in a dry state or in abath one or more objects of a decorative character appropriate for contributing to a desired attractive efie'ct, said bowl having an elevated central portion with a concavity in its upper surface, a center block composed of a series of sections having curved outer faces and located in said concavity, said center block having a central candle-receiving socket and sockets of teardrop cross-section spaced therearound, candle supporting means having candle holders supported on the upper ends thereof and having lower extremities of teardrop configuration in cross-section for complementary reception in said sockets of teardrop cross-section, said candle-supportin means being curved between extremities and when in position of use have its intermediate portion bear upon the upper portion of a pair of adjacent sections of said center block.

2. A centerpiece comprising a complete unit including a relatively shalIOw bowl for receiving and holding in a dry state or in a bath one or more objects of a decorative character appropriate for contributing to a; desired attractive effect, said bowl having a central portion with a concavity in its upper surface, a center block located in said concavity with a central candlereceiving socket and sockets of teardrop crosssection spaced therearound, candle-supporting means having candle holders supported on the upper ends thereof and having lower extremities of teardrop configuration in cross-section for complementary reception in said sockets of teardrop cross-section, said candle-supporting means being curved between extremities and when in position of use have its intermediate portion bear upon the upper portion of a pair of adjacent sections of said center block.

3. A centerpiece comprising a unit including a bowl for receiving and holding in a dry state or in a bath one or more objects of a decorative character appropriate for contributing to a de sired attractive eiTect, said bowl having a concavity in its upper surface, a center block located in said concavity and provided with a candlereceiving socket and spaced sockets of non-circular cross-section, candle-supporting means having lower extremities of non-circular configuration in cross-section for complementary reception in said sockets of non-circular crosssection, said candle-supporting means having a curved surface between extremities and when in position of use have such curved portion bear upon the upper portion of said center block.

4. A centerpiece comprising a complete unit including a bowl for receiving and holding in a dry state or in a bath one or more objects of a decorative character appropriate for contributing to a desired attractive effect, a raised central portion, a center block composed of a series of sections located in said bowl and provided with 4 I a central candle-receiving socket and sockets of teardrop cross-section spaced therearound, candle-supporting means having candle holders supported on the upper ends thereof and having lower end portions "of teardrop configuration for reception against rotation in said sockets of teardrop cross-section, said candle-supporting means when in position of use having its intermediate portion additionally supported by said center block.

5. A centerpiece comprising a block composed of aseries of sections having curved outer faces and provided with a central candle-receiving socket and a' plurality of sockets for candleholders spaced therearound, the sockets for the candle-holder being non-circular in cross-section and corresponding in number to the number of said curved faces located adjacent the joint between faces, candle-holders for location in said sockets and having lower ends of non-circular cross-section whereby said candle-holders will be held against rotation, said candle-holders having their upper portions axially ofiset relative to their lower ends so that when in operative position their intermediate portions may rest against a portion of the center block spaced upwardly from the sockets for said candle holders.

6. A centerpiece comprising a block provided with 'a central candle-receiving socket and a plurality of sockets for candle-holders spaced therearound, the sockets for the candle-holder being non-circular in cross-section, candleholders for location in said sockets and having lower extremities of non-circular cross-section whereby said candle-holders will be held against rotation; said candle-holders having their upper portions axially ofiset relative to the center of said center block from their lower ends so that when in operative positiontheir intermediate portions may rest against the center block in a position upwardly of the sockets for said candleholders.

7. A centerpiece comprising a relatively shallow container adapted to receive and retainrin a dry state or in a bath one or more objects of an ornamental character appropriate to the desired decorative eifect, said container being provided with a raised central portion having a depression therein with an annular shoulder surrounding the same, a center block designed to seat in said depression and retained therein by the said annular shoulder, a recess in said center block, a central candle receiving socket within said recess, a plurality of spaced teardrop sockets disposed within the recess about said central candle receiving socket, outwardly curved candle supports having teardrop lower extremities for complementary reception in said teardrop sockets and adapted to rest against the side of said recess, and candle holders supported on the upper ends of said candle supports.

. WALTER T. HEINTZE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 108,208 Kelly Feb. 1, 1938 1,774,858 Cowan Aug. 26, 1930 2,151,192 Crosser Mar. 21, 1939 

